Combined shipping and display means

ABSTRACT

A combined shipping and display apparatus which, when fully assembled in condition for shipment houses collapsible display ornaments all packed except for at least one thereof which is affixed to one member of the shipping carton and may be displayed thereupon simply by removal of the carton display portion of the housing from the remaining portion thereof. The carton display portion may be folded and suitably hung upon a wall or display stand to provide an aesthetically appealing point of sale display.

United States Patent Kinderman 5] Nov. 26, 1974 [54] COMBINED SHIPPING AND DISPLAY 2,330,585 9/1943 Holstein 206/44.1l MEANS 3,289,823 12/1966 Weiser .4 206 4513 x John Kinderman, Newtown Township, Pa.

Inventor:

Assignee: Brite Star Manufacturing Company,

Inc., Philadelphia, Pa.

Filed: June 4, 1973 Appl. No.: 366,968

US. Cl. 206/4411, 206/45.l3 Int. Cl 365d 77/00 Field of Search 206/44.1l, 45.13

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Menges 206/45.13 Bartol 206/44.ll

Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen [5 7] ABSTRACT A combined shipping and display apparatus which,

when fully assembled in condition for shipment houses collapsible display ornaments all packed except for at least one thereof which is affixed to one member of the shipping carton and may be displayed thereupon simply by removal of the carton display portion of the housing from the remaining portion thereof. The carton display portion may be folded and suitably hung upon a wall or display stand to provide an aesthetically appealing point of sale display.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures COMBINED SHIPPING AND DISPLAY MEANS The present invention relates to shipping and storing cartons and more particularly to a novel carton for shipping and storing collapsible ornaments and the like wherein at least a portion of the shipping carton forms a part of the point of sale display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is characterized by comprising a box assembly for the storage and/or shipment of festive ornaments of the collapsible type. The box assembly comprises a tray portion and cooperating lid portion into which collapsible ornaments are housed, preferably in individual packages. At least one such collapsible ornament, exemplary of those packaged ornaments in the carton, is in such a condition as to have been removed from its individual package and is deposited upon the aforementioned packaged ornaments. The unpackaged ornament is provided with a lead or pullstring releasably affixed to the lid portion of the carton member so that the collapsible ornament is close to assuming its fully assembled form when the lid portion is lifted away from its associated tray portion. The lid portion is provided with an aesthetically appealing advertising and display format printed or otherwise formed upon the lid portion and suitable for hanging upon a wall or display stand. In one preferred embodiment, the lid portion, after having been lifted away from the tray portion, may be folded along appropriately preformed fold lines to facilitate display thereof and to provide the lid portion in the display state with a more aesthetically appealing profile than its lid form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES AND OBJECTS A It is therefore one primary object of the present invention to provide a novel combined shipping carton and display device wherein the shipping carton lid provides the dual functions of forming a part of the shipping carton and upon removal therefrom forms an aesthetically appealing display member for displaying collapsible type festive ornaments.

The above as well as other objects of the present invention will become apparent when reading the accompanying description and drawings in which:

FIG. I is an exploded perspective view showing the carton assembly of the present invention.

FIG. la is a plan view of a partially opened ornament.

FIG. 2 shows the manner in which the carton lid is employed to display festive ornaments.

FIG. 3a is a perspective view showing another type of ornament which may be shipped and displayed through the carton of FIGS. 1 and 2 and is shown in the fully collapsed form.

FIG. 3b shows the collapsible festive ornament of FIG. 3a in the expanded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 shows a display carton assembly embodying the principles of the present invention and which is comprised of a tray portion 11 and a lid portion 12. The tray portion has a base Ila and four upright sides llb-lIe, respectively. Festive ornaments housed within individual packages 13 are arranged in two separate stacks within the tray portion 11 and are comprised of a plastic back portion 13a having a header 13b affixed thereto for sealing a festive ornament therein. It is proposed by the present invention to provide a bakers dozen in each of the two stacks within tray portion 11 wherein 12 of the festive ornaments in each stack are housed within their aforementioned packages and the 13th or topmost festive ornament is positioned upon each one of the stacks after having been removed from its plastic package and header. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the festive ornament l4 constitutes a collapsible sunburst formed of a plurality of thin sheets of foil material 18 stapled to one another at predetermined locations by the staples 15 so as to at least partially be joined to one another. The opposite upper and lower surfaces of the starburst are provided with two somewhat rigid thin plastic sheets which are likewise stapled to the outermost foil sheets in the manner shown best in FIG. 1a. A string member 16 is affixed to one of the fairly rigid plastic sheets as shown at 17 and passes through an opening 14a in the other thin plastic sheet. FIG. 1a shows the sunburst festive ornament in a partially open position. The free end of string 16 is provided with a loop 16a knotted at 16b to provide means for displaying the sunburst on any kind of a support. Simply by lifting the free end or loop 16a of string 16, the sunburst will fall into a fully expanded state as shown best in FIG. 2 wherein the numerous individual thin foil sheets which are cut to form one-half of a starburst configuration, substantially completely project outwardly in every direction to form a starburst ornament. The individual foil sheets 18 as well as the substantially rigid plastic sheets are adapted to pivot about a pair of metallic rings 19 which pass through apertures provided in each of the thin foil sheets in the plastic sheets.

The cover member 12 of the storage and display carton is comprised of a top portion having two downwardly depending sides 12b and 12c. Score or fold lines are provided at 12d and 12s to facilitate bending of the sides to the positions as shown in FIG. 1. When fully assembled, top 120 rests upon the open end of tray member 11 and sides 12b and 120 rests against sides 1 lb and 11d, respectively, of tray member 11. Sides 12b and 12c are affixed to sides 1 lb and 11d, respectively, preferably by means of stapling, although any other means of affixing the sides thereto may be employed.

Side 12b of lid portion 12 is provided with a pair of U-shaped cuts 12f and 12g defining tabs adapted to receive the loops 16a of the starburst ornaments which have been removed from their plastic housings and headers and which have further been positioned upon the two associated stacks of starburst ornaments still contained within their plastic casings and headers. The U-shaped cuts 12f and 12g are enlarged at their ends to capture the loop 22a or 16a of the ornament string.

Thus, by removing lid portion 12 from tray portion 11 and lifting the lid portion upwardly, the two starbursts are carried upward and away from the tops of their respective stacks and will be caused by virtue of gravity to assume the full starburst position as shown best in FIG. 2.

The lid portion 12 is further provided with an arcuate shaped cut 1211 having fold lines 12j and 12k on opposite sides thereof to facilitate folding of the lid portion 12 along fold lines l2j and 12k as shown best in FIG. 2. The two sides 12b and 120 are arranged adjacent one another as shown best in FIG. 2 and may be stapled together or otherwise affixed to form an aesthetically appealing display member as shown in FIG. 2. A hole 12m is provided near the slitted portion of lid 12 as shown at 12m to facilitate hanging of the lid portion upon a suitable display stand or other support. The lid portion, folded in the manner shown best in FIG. 2, cooperates with the two starburst ornaments to provide an aesthetically appealing display for point of sale applications. The setup of the display device can be seen to be quite simple and straightforward, thereby facilitating its use in point of sale applications.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show still another collapsible type ornament which may be employed in conjunction with the combined shipping and display carton of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3a shows a collapsible accordion pleated type ornament 20 in its fully collapsed state. The upper surface 21a of the ornament has a string 22 affixed thereto at 21b. The free end of the string is provided with a loop at 22a which is knotted at 2212. Thus, as in the manner set forth hereinabove, the display ornaments may be packaged in a plastic package, together with a header and in two stacks, as shown in FIG. 1.

One collapsible ornament 20, which is removed from its plastic package and header, is positioned upon each of the two stacks and has its loop 22a inserted within the cutout portions l2for 12g of the lid portion 12. By lifting the lid portion 12 away from the tray portion 11, the collapsible ornament 20 will become fully expanded by gravity as shown in FIG. 3b so as to be suspended from the display lid of FIG. 2 in the same manner as the sunburst members of FIG. 2. Thus, a very simple and aesthetically appealing point of sale display is provided for as part of the shipping carton.

Although there has been described a preferred embodiment of this novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited, not by th specific disclosure herein, but only by the appending claims.

What is claimed is: l. A container for storing and displaying collapsible decorative objects comprising a rectangular shaped base having upstanding walls along each of its sides forming a shallow tray portion; a lid having a rectangular shaped portion and a pair of flaps extending downwardly from at least two LII opposite sides of said lid;

said lid having score lines for folding said lid whereby said flaps engage one another;

a center portion of said lid having a slit extending between said score lines to form an edge extending beyond said score lines when said lid is folded;

an opening being provided adjacent said slit for suspending said lid upon a suitable support;

said tray containing a plurality of packages, each containing a collapsible decorative object; at least one additional of said decorative object being positioned upon said packaged objects;

said additional object having a mounting string;

said string being secured to said lid so as to be extended from its collapsed position when said lid is removed from said tray and mounted upon a support for display purposes.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein at least one of said flaps is provided with a U-shaped slit;

said mounting string having a loop at its free end positioned to encircle a tab defined by said U-shaped cut for securing said unpackaged decorative object to said lid.

3. The container of claim 2 further comprising first and second openings positioned adjacent the free ends of the U-shaped slit to capture said loop and secure same to said lid.

4. A container for storing and displaying collapsible decorative objects comprising a rectangular shaped base having upstanding walls along each of its sides forming a shallow tray portion;

a lid having a rectangular shaped portion and a pair of flaps extending downwardly from at least two opposite sides of said lid;

means for releasably joining said flaps to associated sides of said tray portion;

said tray containing a plurality of packages, each containing a collapsible decorative object; at least one additional of said decorative objects being positioned upon said packaged objects;

said additional object having a mounting string;

said string being secured to said lid so as to be extended from its collapsed position when said lid is removed from said tray and mounted upon a support for display purposes. 

1. A container for storing and displaying collapsible decorative objects comprising a rectangular shaped base having upstanding walls along each of its sides forming a shallow tray portion; a lid having a rectangular shaped portion and a pair of flaps extending downwardly from at least two opposite sides of said lid; said lid having score lines for folding said lid whereby said flaps engage one another; a center portion of said lid having a slit extending between said score lines to form an edge extending beyond said score lines when said lid is folded; an opening being provided adjacent said slit for suspending said lid upon a suitable support; said tray containing a plurality of packages, each containing a collapsible decorative object; at least one additional of said decorative object being positioned upon said packaged objects; said additional object having a mounting string; said string being secured to said lid so as to be extended from its collapsed position when said lid is removed from said tray and mounted upon a support for display purposes.
 2. The container of claim 1 wherein at least one of said flaps is provided with a U-shaped slit; said mounting string having a loop at its free end positioned to encircle a tab defined by said U-shaped cut for securing said unpackaged decorative object to said lid.
 3. The container of claim 2 further comprising first and second openings positioned adjacent the free ends of the U-shaped slit to capture said loop and secure same to said lid.
 4. A container for storing and displaying collapsible decorative objects comprising a rectangular shaped base having upstanding walls along each of its sides forming a shallow tray portion; a lid having a rectangular shaped portion and a pair of flaps extending downwardly from at least two opposite sides of said liD; means for releasably joining said flaps to associated sides of said tray portion; said tray containing a plurality of packages, each containing a collapsible decorative object; at least one additional of said decorative objects being positioned upon said packaged objects; said additional object having a mounting string; said string being secured to said lid so as to be extended from its collapsed position when said lid is removed from said tray and mounted upon a support for display purposes. 